United will cut 42 jobs in outsourcing effort

Airline tells state it will eliminate positions beginning on Oct. 15

Updated 7:09 pm, Tuesday, July 16, 2013

The United Airlines and Continental Airlies ticket counters at the Albany International Airport in Colonie, NY on May 3, 2010. For story on the two airlines merging. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)

The United Airlines and Continental Airlies ticket counters at the Albany International Airport in Colonie, NY on May 3, 2010. For story on the two airlines merging. (Lori Van Buren / Times Union)

Photo: LORI VAN BUREN

Image 2 of 2

Times Union staff photo by Lori Van Buren -- A United Airlines airplane on the tarmac at the Albany International Airport in Colonie, NY on March 2, 2007. For Anderson story about steps airport is taking to make sure people don't get stuck for hours on airplanes when the weather is bad. less

Times Union staff photo by Lori Van Buren -- A United Airlines airplane on the tarmac at the Albany International Airport in Colonie, NY on March 2, 2007. For Anderson story about steps airport is taking to ... more

Photo: LORI VAN BUREN

United will cut 42 jobs in outsourcing effort

1 / 2

Back to Gallery

Colonie

United Airlines has notified the state Department of Labor that it will eliminate the jobs of 42 employees at Albany International Airport and outsource the work. The jobs include ramp and customer service, the people who check in customers, load and unload the baggage and take care of other tasks at the airport gate.

United didn't say who it would contract with for the work, and whether its workers could apply for the jobs.

The job reductions are expected to take effect during a two-week period beginning Oct. 15. In the same notice, United said it is eliminating 40 jobs at the airport in Rochester.

The United employees are represented by the International Association of Machinists. United, now the third-largest carrier at Albany after its merger with Continental Airlines, has reduced the amount of mainline flying it does at Albany, and most service is now provided by regional carriers operating smaller regional jets and turboprops under the United Express banner.

On its most recent schedule, only one full-size aircraft is included in the mix of 19 daily departures.

More Information

A Machinists union spokesman wasn't immediately available for comment.

"We are considering transitioning some of our operations work at select airports to an outside vendor," a United spokesman said Tuesday. "These are difficult decisions, but we must continually look for new opportunities to run a more efficient and financially sustainable business."